Fixture connecter



Sept. 19, 1933. w. WILSON 1,927,250

- FIXTURE CONNECTER Original Filed Dec. 12, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l Buenfor:

Original Filed Dec. 12, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 heave 0r the lower housing 9.

Patented Sept. 19, 1933 7 1,927,250 FIXTURE CONNECTER Wesley Wilson, Chicago, Ill.

Application December 12, 1930, Serial No.

501,931. Renewed February 11, 1933 9 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for connecting and disconnecting electrical fixtures disengageably secured to a ceiling and has particular reference to apparatus for connecting and disconnecting a lighting fixture which has readily engageable and disengageable electrical and mechanical connecter means, for connection with a ceiling unit.

An object of this invention is to provide a form of apparatus or tool and a form of fixture for cooperation therewith which will enable detachable ceiling lighting fixtures .to be; readily attached and detached, both mechanically and electrically, without the, use of a step-ladder or the like.

Further objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description when taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which latter:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of the apparatus embodying the present invention and a form of fixture adapted to be connected and disconnected thereby; Fig. 2 is a top plan view taken substantially on line 22 of Figure 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the insulating base taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a top plan View of the bifurcated A positioning end of the guide member; and

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the carrier arm for gripping the fixture to connect and disconnect the same.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown aceiling unit 1, comprising an upper housing or canopy member 2 in the lower portion of which is positioned a substantially cupshaped insulating base'3 having a central tapered slotted opening 4 in the bottom thereof. Wiring terminals 5 are positioned within the insulating base 3, to which the lead wires 6, are connected.

The wiring terminals 5 are electrically connected to and position the contacts 7,'which are preferably spring contacts extending within the insulating base 3. The slot 4 has shoulder portions 8 on each side thereof, which are adapted to support a lighting fixture assembly, as will be hereinafter described. A lower housing 9 is engage- ,able with the lower end of the upper housing 2 f extending downwardly some distance therefrom, and is provided with a central opening 10 in the bottom thereof.

A plate member 11, which is also provided with a central opening therein, is positioned above The upper housing 2 is preferably formed with a reduced neck portion 12.

A lighting unit assembly is attached to the lower end of a hollow stem 13 and comprises the hood 14 in which is mounted a lamp receptacle, a 6 reflector 15, and'a globe 16. It is to be understood that the lighting fixture assembly is herein described merely for the purposes of illustration, as any other form desired may be employed equally well.

The stem 13 extends through the central openings in the lower housing member 9 and the plate 11, which openings are vertically aligned. A horizontal supporting'member or cross-head 17 is secured to-thev upper end of the stem 13. The ends of the supporting member 17 are formed on a bias so as to taper inwardly toward the bottom, as shown in Fig. 1. The supporting member 17, when in the position shown in Fig. 1, .rests on the shoulder portions 8, and thereby supports the lighting unit assembly. The width'of the supporting member is less than the width of the slot 4 so that the supporting member may pass through the slots hereinbefore mentioned, which is done in attaching or detaching thelighting unit assembly from the ceiling unit.

In making the connection, the cross-head 17 is lined up with the flaring entrance to the slot 4, the fixture stem 13 is pushed upwardly 1 until the ends of the cross-head are above the level of theraised bosses l'la and the fixture stem is then given a quarter turn clockwise, as seen in Fig. 2, to bring the ends of the crosshead into registration with the spring contacts 7. The fixture stem is then allowed to drop down into the pockets in which the contacts 7 are located; thus establishing a reliable mechanical and electrical connection between the fixture and the ceiling unit. In making the connection, the platell engages the lower face of the ceiling unit and as the fixture stem is pushed upwardly, the spring 20 is compressed between the plate 11 and theshoulder 19. This spring tends to; urge the stem downwardly, thus holding the contacts 18 on the cross-head 17 in engagement with the contacts 7 on the ceiling unit.

It has been found preferable to employ a ball joint 21 between the hood 14 and the lower end of the stem. With this construction, the connection between the ceiling unit and the lighting unit assembly will not be affected by any jarring of the lighting unit assembly.

'Attached to the stem 13 above the ball .joint 21 is a collar portion 22, which is preferably formed with a corrugated or fluted surface so that it may be easily gripped for rotating the stem to connect or disconnect the lighting unit assembly from the ceiling unit.

For attaching or detaching the lighting fixture above described, or any other fixture having electrical or mechanical connecter means, the following apparatus may be employed. This apparatus comprises a guide member 23 having a vertical handle portion 24 and a horizontal positioning portion 25.

The positioning portion 25 comprises a pair of spaced arms 26 between which is pivotally mounted a yoke member 27 which, when in position, straddles the neck portion 12 of the ceiling unit. This yoke member is provided with a pair of rollers 28 having vertical axes for engagement with the side of the enlarged cylindrical lower portion of the ceiling unit, a set of three antifriction rollers 29 mounted on horizontal pivot.

pins and engaging the flat horizontal annular surface between the neck portion and the cylindrical portion, and a pair of rollers 30 having vertical axes and engaging the reduced neck portion 12 of the ceiling unit. The pivotal connection of the arms 26 with the yoke permits similar movement of the handle portion 24 without dis turbing the engagement of the rollers on the yoke with the ceiling unit.

With this construction, the yoke 2'7 may be slipped about the neck portion 12 of the ceiling unit and dropped down so that the pair of rollers 28 engage the sides of the cylindrical lower portion of the ceiling unit, the set of three rollers 29 resting on the horizontal annular surface so that the guide member as a unit may be easily rotated or swiveled about the ceiling unit without any danger of its becoming disconnected or getting out of adjustment. This swiveling movement is for use in effecting a quarter turn of the fixture for connecting it and disconnectingit with re-' spect to the ceiling unit, as explained more in detail hereinafter.

A pulley 31 is mounted in the upper end of the handle 24 of the guide member 23, and a cleat 32, preferably of the spring variety, is fastened to the lower outer side of the handleportion 24.

A fixture carrier comprising an arm 33 having an opening 34 therein through which the handle 24 extends is adapted to slide up and down on the handle 24. The handle 24 of the guide member is preferably made square or non-circular, and the opening 34 in the arm 33 is similarly shaped so that the arm cannot rotate with reference to the guide member. Three wheels 35, 36

and 37 are mounted on the arm 33 so that the same will roll up and down the handle 24 of the guide member 23, the wheels 35 and 36 being positioned on the front and rear sides of the handle 24, and the wheel 37 being mounted on the downwardly extending portion 38 of the arm 33. A rope or cable 39 is fastened at one end to the ear portion 40 on the upper side of the arm 33 and extends over the pulley 31; thence downward through an opening 41, which is adjacent the outer end of the arm 33, and is then fastened at the lower end to the cleat 32.

The outer end of the carrier arm 33 is bifurcated as at 42 so as to fit over the collar portion 22 on the stem 13 and engage the same in the as follows:

The positioningportion 25 of the guide mem- 'after which the whole lighting unit assembly may be lowered by gradually easing the lower end of the rope 39, as the weight of the carrier arm and the lighting unit assembly will be suflicient to cause the carrier arm to slide down the handle 24.

In reassembling the lighting fixture with respect to the ceiling unit, a reverse series of operations is necessary, The fixture carrier 33 being in its'lowered position and the forked portions 26 being properly positioned with respect to the ceiling unit, the collar portion 22 is placed in position in the seat formed by the bifurcations 42, the cable 39 is operated to elevate the fixture into proximity with the ceiling "unit, and the handle '24 is swiveled about the ceiling unit to bring the cross-head 17 into alignment with the flaring entrance to the slot 4. The fixture stem is then given a slight additional upward lift to bring the cross-head above the level of the bosses 17a, the handle 24 is then swiveled through a quarter turn to bring the ends of the cross-head into registration with the pockets in which the contacts 7 are seated, and the carrier is then lowered to permit the contacts 18 to engage the contacts 7 and to disengage the seat 42 from the collar 22. The handle 24 is then disengaged from the ceiling unit, leaving the fixture in assembled and connected relation with respect to the ceiling unit.

By the construction shown and described, a detachable lighting fixture may be easily and quickly removed from its ceiling unit without the use of a step-ladder or the like, thus saving time and energy in the operation.

While I have shown and described but one embodiment of the present invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications thereof may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and therefore I wish to be limited only by the prior art and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for connecting and disconnecting a lighting fixture (having readily engageable and disengageable mechanical connecter means.) with respect to an elevated connecter unit placed at such a height that the fixture when connected is out of reachof the operator (having readily engageable and disengageable me chanical connecter means) comprising a guide member provided with means for positioning it with respect to the elevated unit, and a fixture carrier guided by said guide member to bring the connecter means on the fixture into operative engagement with the connecter means 'on the elevated unit, said fixture carrier having sufficient movement with respect to said guide member to enable the carrier to lower the fixture carried thereby from its connected position to a position in which the operator standing on the floor can handle the fixture.

2. Apparatus for connectinganddisconnecting a lighting fixture (having readily engageable and disengageable mechanical connecter means) with respect to an elevated connecter unit placed at such a height that the fixture when connected is out of reach'of the operator (having readily engageable and disengageable mechanical connecter means) comprising a guide member provided with means for positioning it with respect to the elevated unit, and a fixture carrier guided by said guide member to bring the connecter means on the fixture into operative engagement with the connecter means on the elevated unit, said fixture carrier having sufiicient movement with respect to said guide member to enable the carrier to lower the fixture carried thereby from its connected position to a position in which the operator standing on the floor can handle the fixture, said fixture being connectible with said elevated unit by a movement including a movement of rotation, and said apparatus having provisions for effecting said movement of rotation.

3. Apparatus for connecting and disconnecting a lighting fixture (having readily engageable and disengageable mechanical connecter means) with respect to an elevated connecter unit placed at such a height that the fixture when connected is out of reach of the operator (having readily engageable and disengageable mechanical connecter means) comprising a guide member provided with means for positioning it with respect to the elevated unit, and a fixture carrier guided by said guide member to bring the connecter means on the fixture into operative engagement with the connecter means on the elevated unit, said fixture carrier having sufiicient movement with respect to said guide member to enable the carrier to lower the fixture carried thereby from its connected position to a position in which the operator standing on the fioor can handle the fixture,

said fixture carrier being slidably mounted with respect to said guide.

4. Apparatus for connecting and disconnecting a lighting fixture (having readily engageable and disengageable mechanical connecter means) with respect to an elevated connecter unit placed at such a height that the fixture when connected is out of reach of the operator (having, readily engageabie and disengageable mechanical connecter means) comprising a guide member provided with means for positioning it with respect to the elevated unit, and a fixture carrier guided by said guide member to bring the connecter means on the fixture into operative engagement with the 7' connecter means on the elevated unit, said fixture carrier having sufficient movement with respect to said guide member to enable the carrier to lower the fixture carried thereby from its connected position to a position in which the operator standing on the floor can handle the fixture,

said fixture carrier being slidably mounted with respect to said guide, and said fixture being connectible with said elevated unit by movement including a movement of rotation, said apparatus having provisions for effecting said movement of rotation.

5. Apparatus for connecting and disconnecting a lighting fixture (having readily engageable and disengageable mechanical connecter means) with respect to an elevated connecter unit placed at such a height that the fixture when connected is out of reach of the operator (having readily engageable and disengageable mechanical connecter means) comprising a guide member provided with means for positioning it with respect necter means) comprising a guide member proto the elevated unit, a fixture carrier guided by said guide member to bring the connecter means on the fixtureinto operative engagement with the connecter means on the elevated unit, a pulley mounted on said apparatus above said carrier and a flexible operating member secured to said carrier and passing over said pulley.

6. Apparatus for connecting and disconnecting a lighting fixture (having readily engageable and disengageable mechanical connecter means) with respect to an elevated connecter unit placed at such a height that the fixture when connected is out of reach of the operator (having readily engagealole and disengageable mechanical con- 96 vided with means for positioning it with respect to the elevated unit, a fixture carrier guided by said guide member to bring the connecter means on the fixture into operative engagement with the connecter means on the elevated unit, a pulley mounted on said apparatus above said carrier and a flexible operating member secured to said carrier and passing over said pulley, said fixture being connectible with said elevated unit by a movement including a movement of rotation, and said apparatus having provisions for effecting said movement of rotation.

7. Apparatus for connecting and disconnecting a lighting fixture (having readily engageable and disengageable mechanical connecter means) 05 with respect to an elevated connecter unit placed at such a height that the fixture when connected is out of reach of the operator (having readily engageable and disengageable mechanical consaid fixture carrier having sufiicient movement with respect to said guide member to enable the carrier to lower the fixture carried thereby from its connected position to a position in which the operator standing on the floor can handle the fixture, said fixture being connectible with said elevated unit by a movement including a movement of rotation, and said apparatus having provisions for effecting said movement of rotation, including means for efiecting a swivel connection with respect to said elevated unit.

' '8. Apparatus for connecting and disconnecting a lighting fixture (having readily engageable and disengageable mechanical connecter means) with respect to an elevated connecter unit placed at such a height that the fixture when connected is out of reach of the operator (having readily engageable and disengageable mechanical connecter means) comprising an elongated supporting member provided with means for positioning it with respect tothe elevated unit, and a fixture carrier carried by said supporting member and movable with respect to said supporting member to bring the connecter means on the fixture into operative engagement with the connecter means on the elevated unit, said fixture carrier having sufficient movement with respect to said supporting member to enablethe carrier to lower the fixture carried thereby from its connected position to a position on which the operator standing below can handle the fixture.

9. Apparatus for connecting and disconnectinga lighting fixture (having readily engageable ative engagement with the connecter means on the elevated unit, said fixture carrier having sufiicient movement with respect to the anchorage member to enable the carrier to lower the fixture carried thereby from its connected position to a position in which the operator standing below can handle the fixture.

V WESLEY WILSON. 

